MUTHIAN CHETTY Vs. CHINNATHAMBI AMBALAGARAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The plaintiffs claim under two instruments of mortgage executed by the Zamindar in 1885. The first plaintiff is the mortgagee of an undivided moiety of the village now in suit. The plaintiffs Nos. 2 to 4 are the mortgagees of the other undivided moiety. They tender a patta in their joint names to the defendants who are admittedly tenants holding lands in the village. It is also alleged in the plaint that the tenants we are paying rent to the plaintiffs jointly.

(2.) The question for decision is whether the plaintiffs are entitled to tender this joint patta. Prom 1885 till the date of suit the tenants in the village must have been paying their rents either to the plaintiffs jointly or separately. If the plaintiffs have been receiving rents jointly, they would be entitled to tender the pattas as claimed. If, on the other hand, the defendants, have been as alleged before us, paying only a moiety of their rent to the first plaintiff and the other moiety to the other plaintiffs, then they are entitled to demand a separate patta from the first plaintiff.

(3.) It is admitted on both sides that rents were being paid during those years though no pattas or muchilikas have been produced and no evidence has been taken in the case.